Terrible Home & Life Habits That Are Harming The Wildlife Around You

11.Excessive Use Of Single-Use Plastic

You likely use plastic bags when shopping for food, clothes, toiletries, and other random items. If you’re not using it shopping, then it’s probably in boxes you order from Amazon. Straws and other single-use plastics are some of the most harmful materials for wildlife. Because plastic is unable to degrade naturally, it oftentimes ends up in the stomachs of wildlife or their natural habitats, whether that’s deep in the sea or the forest. We’re using plastic at a much faster rate than we’re able to dispose of it, so it’s becoming a huge concern. You can do your part by limiting your use of single-use plastic and switching to more sustainable materials.

When animals eat microplastics, they accumulate inside their bodies and cause health issues, including punctured organs or intestinal blockages. The chemicals alone in plastics are also harmful. According to NRDC, “Marine animals bear the burden of this influx of garbage into their habitats. Beached whales have been found with stomachs full of plastic trash. Recent studies found plastic in the guts of 90 percent of the seabirds tested and 100 percent of the turtles. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight in 2050.” (NRDC).